Slightly Unusual 2001 Golf VR6
Discussion
I'll start this thread off by giving a brief history into my love affair with the Golf VR6, I wanted one as a boy at School, everyone else lusted after Imprezas, Cosworths etc, not me, I wanted a Golf VR6 when I was a bit older. I realised my boyhood dream in 2003 and in one way or another I've had one ever since. I think this current car is my 8th or 9th Golf VR6
Now, history lesson for me over, onto the car.
I first spied this car around 5 years ago, parked up in a car park visible from a main road, what drew me to the car was the fact it was wearing a Y registration plate, it was white, had texture top bumpers, Monte Carlo alloy wheels and no sunroof.
That number plate really threw me, as did the unusual spec. some investigation was required, to determine exactly what it was.
Some digging was done, turns out it is a South African car, imported by a previous owner, manufactured in 1998 but for whatever reason given a 2001 Y registration when imported to the UK, and as far as I'm aware, the only white VR6 in the UK to wear a Y registration plate.
Anyway fast forward to last year, I got a call from a friend asking if I'd be interested in a white 5 door VR6? at the time I already had one, and I declined the offer, until my mate said. " are you sure? it's THE Y reg car you've harped on about in the past" I didn't need to think it over, I got in touch with the owner, a deal was done and I collected the cars short time later
So here are some pictures, just after the car was picked up with no MOT/tax, it had sat in a drive unused for nearly 2 years
A clean looking relatively unabused car, having only covered 52k it only needed an exhaust tail box, and some other minor items for its MOT and it was pressed into service, then disaster struck, big time,
It caught fire in a car park, whilst my mate (and co owner) had it at work, still don't know what caused it, but it was crunch time for the car, as it really was make or break.
We looked over the car, all the damage was cosmetic structurally, and everything else could be replaced if we wanted to do so,
In the end we both decided a donor car would be the only solution to a repair, so we sourced a cheap Highline out of MOT locally and used that as a donor for the bits to repair this. These included Engine loom, ABS Loom, ABS Pump& ECU, plastics, water pipes, coolant bottle, fan control unit, air on pipes (still to be fitted)
3 days solid stripping out this car of damaged parts, then the highline for the good bits, and transferring everything to this ensued, and after replacing some blown fuses, the car started off the first turn of the key, for the 1st time in 5 months. I was delighted, there were a few teething problems along the way, but everything now works except from the air con. ABS light was on prior to the fire, the ECU was faulty, so that's now rectified, electric windows now work as they were also faulty, so all in all, the car now has more working items than it did before the fire. I'm quite chuffed with that.
This was just after it had been fired up for the first time after the repair, note scorched bonnet
The day it came home for the first time post repair
After its first wash in nearly 7 months here's how it looks now. Its needing some TLC to make mint again, but its solid in the right places, and once I've sold my E46 M3 this will be pressed into daily duty Not before I've fitted some colour concept Recaros, a deeper VR6 chin spoiler, replacement bonnet and headlights (these are temporary as pass side OEM was cracked) and some better wheels.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, I will update it as I continue with the car
Now, history lesson for me over, onto the car.
I first spied this car around 5 years ago, parked up in a car park visible from a main road, what drew me to the car was the fact it was wearing a Y registration plate, it was white, had texture top bumpers, Monte Carlo alloy wheels and no sunroof.
That number plate really threw me, as did the unusual spec. some investigation was required, to determine exactly what it was.
Some digging was done, turns out it is a South African car, imported by a previous owner, manufactured in 1998 but for whatever reason given a 2001 Y registration when imported to the UK, and as far as I'm aware, the only white VR6 in the UK to wear a Y registration plate.
Anyway fast forward to last year, I got a call from a friend asking if I'd be interested in a white 5 door VR6? at the time I already had one, and I declined the offer, until my mate said. " are you sure? it's THE Y reg car you've harped on about in the past" I didn't need to think it over, I got in touch with the owner, a deal was done and I collected the cars short time later
So here are some pictures, just after the car was picked up with no MOT/tax, it had sat in a drive unused for nearly 2 years
A clean looking relatively unabused car, having only covered 52k it only needed an exhaust tail box, and some other minor items for its MOT and it was pressed into service, then disaster struck, big time,
It caught fire in a car park, whilst my mate (and co owner) had it at work, still don't know what caused it, but it was crunch time for the car, as it really was make or break.
We looked over the car, all the damage was cosmetic structurally, and everything else could be replaced if we wanted to do so,
In the end we both decided a donor car would be the only solution to a repair, so we sourced a cheap Highline out of MOT locally and used that as a donor for the bits to repair this. These included Engine loom, ABS Loom, ABS Pump& ECU, plastics, water pipes, coolant bottle, fan control unit, air on pipes (still to be fitted)
3 days solid stripping out this car of damaged parts, then the highline for the good bits, and transferring everything to this ensued, and after replacing some blown fuses, the car started off the first turn of the key, for the 1st time in 5 months. I was delighted, there were a few teething problems along the way, but everything now works except from the air con. ABS light was on prior to the fire, the ECU was faulty, so that's now rectified, electric windows now work as they were also faulty, so all in all, the car now has more working items than it did before the fire. I'm quite chuffed with that.
This was just after it had been fired up for the first time after the repair, note scorched bonnet
The day it came home for the first time post repair
After its first wash in nearly 7 months here's how it looks now. Its needing some TLC to make mint again, but its solid in the right places, and once I've sold my E46 M3 this will be pressed into daily duty Not before I've fitted some colour concept Recaros, a deeper VR6 chin spoiler, replacement bonnet and headlights (these are temporary as pass side OEM was cracked) and some better wheels.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, I will update it as I continue with the car
Edited by martin mrt on Saturday 17th May 05:41
Lovely. My parents bought new VWs of this era and I was always plonked in the corner of the dealership to look through the brochures. They bought a Vento 1.6 L (not even a CL!) and I eventually went on to own a TDI at 19. I'd love to find a nice clean unmolested Vr6 Vento one day.
Keep up the good work!
Keep up the good work!
I started reading the thread then noticed the 01224 number on the van.
I am on Eastside as well Martin.
Looks in great condition. Glad the fire damage was not too bad.
When you put the colour concept seats in I can't help but picture them with white leather inserts. Kind of like an old C43 AMG.
I am on Eastside as well Martin.
Looks in great condition. Glad the fire damage was not too bad.
When you put the colour concept seats in I can't help but picture them with white leather inserts. Kind of like an old C43 AMG.
So you now have this along with the Vectra and M3? do I also spot an e91 m sport?I'm also on Eastside yes.
Sadly I am replacing the M3 with a Golf, personal circumstances have forced me to do so, it's only a car at the end if the day.
Currently my "fleet" consists of E46 M3, this Golf and the sprinter van in the background, the E91 was mine but now belongs to a good friend, vectra is long gone.
Sadly I am replacing the M3 with a Golf, personal circumstances have forced me to do so, it's only a car at the end if the day.
Currently my "fleet" consists of E46 M3, this Golf and the sprinter van in the background, the E91 was mine but now belongs to a good friend, vectra is long gone.
Your engine bay fire is most likely down to the cooling fan module that sits under the coolant expansion tank, if the little plastic cover that sits over the fuse on top is missing or open it fills with water shorts out and can flatten the battery or in worst case set alight as such.
martin mrt said:
Cheers Rod, surprised you've not spotted some of my previous cars around town, I live in portlethen
Picked up some 17" Compomotive MOs today, along with the replacement bonnet, so I'll hopefully get those fitted this week.
I spend a fair amount of time in portlethen/cammachmore and a couple friends work for Hydrasun. I'll have to be more vigilant! Picked up some 17" Compomotive MOs today, along with the replacement bonnet, so I'll hopefully get those fitted this week.
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